News Release

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Long Arm of the Law Reaches Out and Finds Reputed Gang Member

"Long Arm of the Law Reaches Out and Finds Reputed Gang Member"

Los Angeles: Today, at approximately 3:00 P.M., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Fugitive Warrant Section, in a joint effort with the United States Marshals Service, the Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and the Bullhead City Police Department, arrested Timothy McGhee in Bullhead City, Arizona on a fugitive warrant. McGhee, a reputed Los Angeles Area gang member, was wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with as many as a dozen killings and had recently been named to the United States Marshals Service "15 Most Wanted Fugitive List."

McGhee, 29 years of age, had been charged by the Marshals Service with the federal offense of Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution. The federal charge is based on McGhee’s efforts to elude capture and prosecution in connection with an arrest warrant that was issued in June 2000, charging him with the murder of 16 year-old Ryan Gonzalez. McGhee allegedly killed Gonzalez simply because Gonzalez happened to share the same nickname that McGhee uses. McGhee is also a suspect in a string of brutal murders that have been committed since then, including the murder of a 17 year-old boy who was sketching a picture at the Los Angeles River near the gang’s stronghold in Atwater Village. Additionally, he killed a young mother of two, apparently because of the type of vehicle she was driving.

Investigators believe that McGhee, while evading capture, continued to influence the activities of his gang while on the run. He continued his involvement in the gang’s criminal enterprises, which included drug trafficking, firearms violations and other criminal offenses, including murder and threats of violence to dissuade rival gang members, potential witnesses and unsuspecting community members.

Based on information received during their intensive manhunt for McGhee, officers went to Bullhead City, Arizona. Officers from the United States Marshals Service, Los Angeles Police Department, Department of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Bullhead City Police Department observed McGhee in a vehicle and took him into custody. McGhee offered no resistance during the arrest.

The criminal investigation into McGhee, his associates and fellow gang members will continue. The extradition process will be initiated after his arraignment in Kingman County, Arizona.